Have you ever experienced that moment in life where someone just says something basic to you as a matter of fact but it is so monumental? Like the light bulb just went on, relief floods over you. A true aha moment! You feel like you have now been given permission to relax and do what’s practical.
That is what happened to me today when my PT casually said let’s work on the strengthening and body mechanics and maybe consider a spring HALF marathon. After the initial shock of thinking I would have to settle for a half marathon, the more important part of that comment sunk in. Let’s work on strengthening and body mechanics. Wouldn’t it be nice to actually train and run a marathon based on the strength and ability that you have gained prior to marathon training instead of having to deal with every little niggle and injury that pops up during training? What a concept! Build strength! Work on body mechanics! Prepare your body to run long distances instead of running and breaking it down with no reserves for recovery. Yes, injury can still happen but probably less so if your body is strong and prepared to take on such a challenge.
I am overwhelmed right now with relief and newfound freedom to do what is necessary to actually run a marathon. Yes, I have been doing strengthening exercises for those injuries that keep cropping up, but I am not where I need to be strength-wise. And still, I was gearing up to start another marathon training program by November 1st. But, now I can relax. It isn’t that I wasn’t aware or didn’t know that strengthening and even diet, fueling, and other specific things needed to happen to run a marathon. My rose-colored glasses were just a little foggy ha!
Seriously, I believe that I had convinced myself that I can do it all while training for the marathon. Even with the reality of injury, setbacks, and obvious weaknesses, I continued on. I have always thought that I was injury prone and that comes with the territory of marathon training. I can’t even elaborate on how hearing this one little statement today made such a huge difference. Maybe it was the order in which it was said? Maybe it was the matter-of-fact way in which it was received? I don’t know. Maybe I was just ready to hear the obvious. But, it hit me like it was a major news flash. Haha!
My big goal in my running life is to run Boston. So, instead of signing up for a qualifying marathon the minute I get back to running, I will make sure that I am properly prepared to even begin marathon training. Someone may have to actually say, you can start training now….haha!
Happy Running
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